CuffIt Up

Summertime calls for polo shirts, rumpled tees and rolled up sleeves. And those bare arms are almost begging for some adornment. While a lot of guys these days are leaning towards braided or beaded bracelets, we'd like to suggest the metal cuff to mix things up during the dog days. The simple metal bands make for a masculine, understated look—like the ones here, fashioned from everyday copper and brass to luxe sterling silver. A few pieces even have the option for personal engraving. They look great on their own, but don't hesitate to mix them up with those braided or beaded numbers you probably already own. In fact, use them as a buffer between your new cuff and your watch to keep the metal from scratching or clicking against the timepiece's case.

Recently, I met an old Italian gent on a plane and noticed that, next to his 1970s Rolex Submariner, were a few well-worn bracelets made of beads, leather and braided string. When he caught me gazing at his wrist, he held it up and proudly said, "These are my stories." He'd found them at various open air markets on adventures in Tanzania, Peru and Thailand. The old guy inspired me, so on a quick trip to Spain I bought my first wearable memento. One down, a few more to go.